Simoneau v. Northern Terminals, Inc.

Northern Terminals, Inc. (Northern) appeals from a superior court decision awarding compensatory and' punitive damages for its failure to honor plaintiff’s preemptive right of first refusal to purchase property which plaintiff leased from Northern in Burlington. We affirm the judgment as to liability but reverse the trial court’s award of damages.

I. Background

Northern acquired the parcel in question, 315 Shelburne Road, Burlington, in 1968 and built a convenience store and service station. Northern’s gasoline supplier was Chevron U.S.A., Inc., which guaranteed the financing for Northern’s…